Rodeo Drive and a 458 Ferrari Italia.
Story and photos by Steven Kittrell unless otherwise noted
Beverly. Hills that is; swimming pools, movie stars and a stable of Ferraris never before seen on US soil. Last Sunday, Ferrari celebrated its 60th North American anniversary by rolling out the red carpet on Rodeo Drive. This ‘Race Through the Decades’ event was loaded with the most historically significant collection of Ferrari’s ever assembled in the United States.
The Ferrari Club of America was impressive in attendance totaling over 1,000 registered prancing horses to complement the highlighted 60 cars roped off on the iconic streets of Beverly Hills. With 60 of the best road going, Le Mans and Mille Miglia raced, and concours-winning cars serving as a outdoor museum, attendees were treated to the distinct notes of Lampredi and Colombo engines.
What would a Ferrari celebration be without a black tie gala kicking off the weekend? Top Ferrari clients, dealers and VIPs were in attendance Saturday evening at City Hall for a night of nostalgia, new beginnings and unveilings. Among the surprises was the introduction of the very first 458 Speciale A, the newest model in the Ferrari lineup.
With only 10 V12 Barchettas being built, and pre-sold to a select group of dedicated US Ferrari owners, the F60 pays homage to the famous North American Racing Team cars of the 60's by being finished exclusively in a blue and white color livery. Taylor Wrighton photo
The F60 was unveiled for the crowd. Taylor Wrighton photo
Sunday afternoon was a parade of Ferrari executives including son of Enzo Ferrari and Vice Chairman, Piero Ferrari, CEO of Ferrari Amedeo Felisa, CEO of the FCA Sergio Marchionne, Chairman of the FCA John Elkann and founding chairman of the Peterson Automotive Museum, Bruce Meyer. Their presentation to the thousands of spectators included the reveal of a milestone car, the F60 America.
Pictured is the 1954 375 MM Coupe #0402 AM, owned by collector Jon Shirley, is now famously know for winning the first post WWII Pebble Beach Concour 'Best of Show' award this past August. It is the first Ferrari to ever receive the honor. Originally built as a spider, it was re-bodied as a coupe by Scaglietti after the first owner got into an accident.
Having a win at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the Mille Miglia on your resume would more than put you into Ferrari folklore. Fortunately for this 166 MM Barchetta #008, it did just that in the 1949 racing season for Enzo Ferrari. With Luigi Chinetti behind the wheel for 23 hours and 40 mins of the race, he was able to bring home the very first Le Mans win for the prancing horse.
As a custom built car for Gianni Agnelli, this 1955 375 America was not only the Turin Auto Show car in 1954, it was also the 12th and very last 375 American built by Pinin Farina. #0355 AL went through an extensive restoration, but was well worth it, as it's won 15 'Best of Show' or 'Best in Class' awards in the US and Europe.
Ace Ferrari driver, and fan favorite Phil Hill, drove this 1960 250 TR/60 #0774TR to a first place victory at the 1000 KMs of Buenos Aries in 1960. After being lent to NART and a failed finish at Sebring, the car was placed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans where it dominated the field, by 4 laps, beating out another NART Testa Rossa. It would later be another prized piece in the von Neumann collection.
In 1957 Ferrari was developing V12 sport racers such as the 335 Sport and this 315 Sport #0684. After Piero Taruffi won the '57 Mille Miglia in his final race, the car was sold to an American who entered it into the Elkhart Lake 500 where Phil Hill took the checkered flag.
GTOs will always show well, as did this 250 GTO/64 Series II N.A.R.T. #5571 GT. This particular GTO, sold to Luigi Chinetti, was raced to victory by Phil Hill and Pedro Rodriguez in its first contest, the Daytona Continental. It followed up that victory with a class win the 12 Hours at Sebring in 1964
This 275 GTB/C #9079 was the GT Class winning car and 11th overall at the 1967 Le Mans 24 Hour. Although the car failed to finish Le Mans in '68 & '69, it did win again at the 1000 KMs de Franchorchamps in 1969.
There is no doubt that the 330 P4 is an iconic beauty and a beast. Sporting a four-liter engine, prototype #0856 took second at the 24 Hours of Daytona (as part of a 1-2-3 finish in 1967), second again at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and a first overall victory at the 1000 KMs of Monza. This is the only original 330 P4 left in existence, as the other two were converted to light-weight spiders.
Originally a 512 S, this car was raced in the states before being bought by Roger Penske. After updating to 512 M specs in California and painted blue by Sunoco, it contested in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and 4 other major races. Much to the disappointment of drivers Mark Donohue and David Hobbs, accidents and misfires prevented it from a lead podium finish.
In 1996 Ferrari developed a F50 prototype to compete in international GT racing. The result was this F50GT #001 which sported a fixed roof, new spoilers and was even faster than the 333SP. Ferrari, however, set their focus back on Formula 1 and scraped the GT program before it ever raced.
The event was spectacular and it may have been the largest number of Ferraris ever gathered. Although if memory serves, there was an equally large Ferrari event in the UK a few years ago.
As for being the most historically significant gathering of Ferraris, that is debatable. The historic part was the 60 significant Ferraris arrayed along Rodeo Drive. A great group of cars for sure, but no more so than the International Ferrari Concours at Monterey in 1984, Pebble Beach featuring Ferraris in 2004, and the 60th Anniversary of Ferrari in Maranello in 2007.
Would Love to have been there !
I have two and a half Ferraris ?
A 512 BBI. A 412 and a Formula One
Model for the grand children to Drive
Hello Ed,
Thank you for your comments and insight. I believe my excitement got the better of me, but it was not entirely my fault. I polled a small group of respected individuals who I’ve known to have attended most of the FCA and Ferrari sanctioned events around the world. In the moment, no one could tell me a Ferrari specifc happening in the US that served as better experience than this. I hope my future brings me as many wonderful events that you have seen and been apart of.
All the best,
Steven Kittrell
Enzo Ferrari was smiling down from the great race track in the sky. The event was
spectacular, dominated by super enthusiastic car owners and excited fans. Kudos to
all the people who worked so hard to make this a successful event. Those cars are
art treasures, a pleasure for the eyes and the soul. My husband, Phil Hill, drove many of them to victory and so many fans enjoyed sharing their personal stories of seeing him win the F1 World Championship in 1961, the first American born to do so. I send my gratitude to all the owners who were willing to share their precious automobiles with the public, young and old. Blessings to all. Forza Ferrari!
A Spectacular Day was had by all. Kudos to the organizers and the enthusiastic
car owners to share their precious automobiles with the public young and old.
My husband,Phil Hill, drove many of them to victory. He was the first American born
driver to win the Formula One World Championship in 1961 in a Ferrari. So many
fans wanted to share their stories with me, having seen him drive in various parts of
the world and some of the cars were here. Forza Ferrari…….
1994 was pretty mind-blowing in Monterey too Ed. I do recall several of our early Concorso Italiano events had staggering numbers, as did a few in the last 10 years. Great event coverage Steven.
Beautiful photos! A photo collection should be printed. An entire book could be made to celebrate this outstanding event.
Looks like a great gathering, best I saw was Monterey 1994 and Maranello 2007 for the 60th (about 1020 Ferraris if I recall correctly).
Somebody please give Marchione a jacket and tie, he should ditch the homeless look, it is so passe….
MS
When I see a 512 coupe in the Sunoco livery, I recall reading that the Penske car had legs on the factory 512s at Daytona. Penske had Traco go through the engine.
Well done Roger.